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Wangari Maathai

Kenyan environmentalist and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 (1940-2011) · Kenya · Politicians · Died at 71

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She turned the simple act of planting a tree into a mass movement that reforested Kenya and won her the Nobel Peace Prize - the first African woman to receive it.

PoliticiansPoliticianPoliticsBiology20th Century

A life in dates

2026The anniversary of their death, on 25 September.25 September 20262011Died25 September 20112009Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising SunAward2008Elizabeth Blackwell AwardAwardGrand prix des lectrices de ElleAward2007World Citizenship AwardAward2006“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking.”In their words24 April 2006Speech at Goldman Awards, San Francisco (24 April 2006)

“We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty, and wonder.”In their wordsHer memoir, Unbowed: A Memoir (2006).

Honorary Doctor of Waseda UniversityAwardIndira Gandhi Peace PrizeAward2005Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International UnderstandingAward2004“As I conclude I reflect on my childhood experience when I would visit a stream next to our home to fetch water for my mother. I would drink water straight from the stream.”In their words10 December 2004Nobel lecture (10 December 2004)

“I think what the Nobel committee is doing is going beyond war and looking at what humanity can do to prevent war.”In their words10 October 2004Interview in TIME (10 October 2004)

Nobel Peace PrizeAwardPetra-Kelly-PreisAwardSophie PrizeAward2003Minister of Environment of KenyaOffice2003-20052002Member of the National AssemblyOffice2002-20072000Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellowship in ConservationAward1993Edinburgh MedalAward1991Goldman Environmental PrizeAward1984Right Livelihood AwardAward1940Born1 April 1940

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Wangari Matthai 2001 (cropped)Wangari Matthai 2001 (cropped)Apr01 Wangari Muta MaathaiApr01 Wangari Muta MaathaiBurgos - Murales pacifistas del Colegio Santa María la Nueva y San José Artesano 05Burgos - Murales pacifistas del Colegio Santa María la Nueva y San José Artesano 05Clinton in KenyaClinton in KenyaFinisher medal for the Wangari Maathai MarathonFinisher medal for the Wangari Maathai MarathonGBM MovementGBM MovementGedenktafel Albrechtstr 2 (Mitte) Wangari MaathaiGedenktafel Albrechtstr 2 (Mitte) Wangari MaathaiGordonBrownWangariMaathaiGordonBrownWangariMaathai

In their own words 10

,
Wangari Maathai
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven't done a thing. You are just talking.

    Apr 24, 2006, Speech at Goldman Awards, San Francisco (24 April 2006), Own words

  2. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty, and wonder.

    2006, Her memoir, Unbowed: A Memoir (2006)., Own words

  3. As I conclude I reflect on my childhood experience when I would visit a stream next to our home to fetch water for my mother. I would drink water straight from the stream.

    Dec 10, 2004, Nobel lecture (10 December 2004), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun2009
Elizabeth Blackwell Award2008
Grand prix des lectrices de Elle2008
World Citizenship Award2007
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize2006
Honorary Doctor of Waseda University2006
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding2005
Nobel Peace Prize2004
Petra-Kelly-Preis2004
Sophie Prize2004
Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellowship in Conservation2000
Edinburgh Medal1993
Goldman Environmental Prize1991
Right Livelihood Award1984
Knight of the Legion of Honour
The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal
NAACP Image Award - Chairman's Award

Family

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About this person

Wangari Maathai came to the United States through the Kennedy Airlift, earned degrees in Kansas and Pittsburgh, then returned to Kenya to become the first woman in East and Central Africa to receive a Ph.D., from the University of Nairobi. In 1977 she founded the Green Belt Movement, linking environmental conservation with women's rights and transforming ecological debate into direct action: millions of trees planted across the country. The work earned her the Right Livelihood Award in 1984 for "converting the Kenyan ecological debate into mass action for reforestation." She entered parliament, served as assistant minister for environment and natural resources under President Mwai Kibaki from 2003 to 2005, and wrote extensively on ecology, development, gender, and African cultures. She died of ovarian cancer complications on 25 September 2011.

Country
Kenya
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1940 to 2011 · aged 71

In common with Wangari

Vandana ShivaAlso in From the Interior, Colonized (1992)Bella AbzugAlso in From the Interior, Colonized (1992)Corazon AquinoBoth received World Citizenship AwardRajendra K. PachauriBoth received Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellowship in Conservation

Politicians from Kenya 2

William Ruto72.0Jomo Kenyatta63.2

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